Quick Facts of
- First NameChuck
- Last NameBerry
- Net Worth$ 10 million
Nicknamed the Father of Rock and Roll, Chuck Berry was an American singer & songwriter who was professionally active from 1953 till 2017 until his death.
Berry got his career breakthrough from the song Maybellene, which sold over a million copies & has released famous songs like Wee Wee Hours, No Money Down, Rock and Roll Music, Almost Grown, and Let It Rock.
In 1962, the late singer was sentenced to prison & was later released from prison in 1963. Thereafter, he released hit-singles like Nadine (Is It You?), You Never Can Tell, Promised Land, and Dear Dad.
What Is Chuck Berry’s Net Worth In 2020?
According to Celebrity Net Worth, the late American singer & songwriter’s estate’s net worth is $10 million as of March 2020. Indeed, with 6 decades of career in the music industry, Chuck garnered himself with a hefty sum.
Reportedly, at the time of death in March 2017, Berry was worth $50 million & as per Billboard, he controlled $17 million in music assets.
In January 2017, the earnings from his royalties were $500,000.
Inducted in Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986, Chuck enjoyed massive money showers from music career: albums sales, tours & concerts. In fact, $13 million of his estate comes from music publishing rights.
Moreover, he gained economic aid through real estate investments along with ownership of St. Louis nightclub & Berry’s Club Bandstand.
Album Releases & Earnings From Tours
In the mid-1950s, Chuch Berry moved to Chicago & worked with the record label Chess Records to release his debut single Maybelle in July 1955- the song is an adaptation of country song Ida Red & sold over million copies and charted #1 in Billboard rhythm and blues chart.
In May 1957, the American singer released his debut studio album After School Session & since recorded a total of 20 albums in his entire career; he has released famous songs Roll Over Beethoven (1956), Rock and Roll Music (1957) and Johnny B. Goode (1958).
However, following Berry’s arrest in 1962 under the Mann Act, his career saw downhill but slowly took climb afterward his release from prison in 1963.
After a decade of his infamous imprisonment, Chuck Berry got huge success with the release of The London Chuck Berry Sessions in 1972, his 16th album that became Gold-certified in the USA & was 8th in Billboard 200.
By the 80s, Berry became active in concerts & tours that grossed millions of dollars shower.
Just after a month of his death, the late singer’s posthumous album Chuck was released in June 2017. Moreover, his music releases include 31 compilation albums, 11 live albums & singles.
List of Chuck Berry’s studio albums:
| Albums | Famous Singles |
| After School Session (May 1957) | Wee Wee Hours, No Money Down, Too Much Monkey Business |
| One Dozen Berrys (March 1958) | Rock and Roll Music |
| Chuck Berry Is on Top (July 1959) | Maybellene, Johnny B. Goode, Carol, Little Queenie, Almost Grown |
| Rockin’ at the Hops (July 1960) | Broken Arrow, Let It Rock, I Got to Find My Baby |
| New Juke Box Hits (March 1961) | Little Star |
| Two Great Guitars (August 1964) | Dear Dad |
| St. Louis to Liverpool (November 1964) | Merry Christmas Baby, You Never Can Tell, No Particular Place to Go, Promised Land |
| Chuck Berry in London (April 1965) | Dear Dad |
| Fresh Berry’s (November 1965) | It Wasn’t Me |
| Chuck Berry’s Golden Hits (March 1967) | Club Nitty Gritty |
| Chuck Berry in Memphis (September 1967) | Back to Memphis |
| From St. Louie to Frisco (November 1968) | Louie to Frisco |
| Concerto in B. Goode (June 1969) | It’s Too Dark in There |
| Back Home (November 1970) | Tulane |
| San Francisco Dues (September 1971) | – |
| The London Chuck Berry Sessions (October 1972) | My Ding-a-Ling |
| Bio (August 1973) | Bio |
| Chuck Berry (February 1975) | Shake, Rattle, and Roll |
| Rock It (1979) | Oh What a Thrill |
| Chuck (June 2017) | You Go to My Head |
Did you know? His single My Ding-a-Ling charted #1 in Billboard Hot 100 & #1 in RPM in Canada. The song earned him $250,000, which is $1.5 million for adjusted inflation as of today.
Revenue From Tours & Concerts
In the 80s & 90s, the late American singer reportedly made $20,000- $35,000 a gig.
He was famous for his demands of payroll before the concerts & charged $2,500 to appear in the documentary Hail! Hail! Rock ’N’ Roll, made in celebration of the 60th birthday.
| Year | Earnings (from 100 shows-a-year) |
|---|---|
| 1990 | $2 million |
| 1991 | $2 million |
| 1992 | $2 million |
| 1993 | $2 million |
| 1994 | $2 million |
| 1995 | $2 million |
| 1996 | $2 million |
| 1997 | $2 million |
| 1998 | $2 million |
| 1999 | $2 million |
What Are His Lawsuit & Legal Issues?
While as a student in Sumner High School in 1994, Chuck was convicted of armed robbery- he robbed 3 shops in Kansas City & stole a car in gunpoint. Thereafter from 1944- to 1947, he was held in the reformatory.
In December 1959, Berry was arrested under the Mann Act after his allegations on physical relationship & transport of 14-year-old Apache waitress, Janice Escalante across state lines.
Thereafter in March 1960, the late American singer was convicted & charged with $5,000 fine & imprisonment of 5 years, however, after a series of trails, he served only 1 & a half years in prison (February 1962- October 1963).
59 Women Sued Him
After being charged with assaulting a woman at New York’s Gramercy Park Hotel, Chuck in the late 80s paid a fine of $250.
Reportedly, in 1990, he was accused by several women, estimated to be 59- citing that the singer had installed a video camera in the bathroom of his restaurant Southern Air in Wentzville, Missouri.
The lawsuit got him legal fees of over $1.2 million.
Furthermore, his accusation of child-abuse charges (though was dropped later) & charges for possession of marijuana cost him 2 years of probation & was ordered to donate $5,000 to a local hospital.
Was Found Dead In Missouri House
From 1958 until the 80s, Berry lived in his house in St. Louis, Missouri, which was once in the market for $399,999 in 2018.
Until his death in 2017, he resided in Wentzville, Missouri, where he was found unresponsive by police in St. Charles County, Missouri on March 18, 2017, & was announced dead later at the age of 90.
As per TMZ, Chuck’s died of cardiac arrest after the source posted audio of 911 operators responding to reported “cardiac arrest.”
Was Father Of 4: Married Life & Family
Chuck Berry was in a marital relationship with wife Themetta Suggs aka Toddy; they married from October 28, 1948, until the singer’s death.
Together, the duo became parents to 2 children: Ingrid Berry (October 3, 1950) and Aloha Berry. Also, the late singer was father to other 2 children: Melody Exes Berry-Eskridge and Charles Berry Jr.
Chuck Berry was born Charles Edward Anderson Berry on October 18, 1926, in St. Louis, Missouri, the USA.
He was the youngest of 4 children to Henry William Berry (1895- 1987), a contractor and mother Martha Bell (1894-1980), a certified public school principal.
The Sumner High School attendant later went to pursue a career in music- beginning with local bands in clubs & he gained further success in the music industry.
